I don’t say anything, because fuck knows that’s asking for the impossible. We’re outnumbered. The only question is: what the fuck does she want? There’s a reason she’s not picking us all off.
“Drop your weapons and exit the vehicle,” she shouts during the sudden silence.
I shakily grab my gun, prepared to go down, but Tennant covers my hand. “Stall her. We just need to wait it out.”
“You have one minute. If you fail to exit peacefully, we’ll kill you all. Since you targeted my brother, you should know better than to assume you’ll find any mercy with us.”
“Is she on crack?” I mutter.
“No, she’s playing a goddamn role. It makes her even more dangerous. Fuck. I don’t like this.”
We hear the doors open behind us, and my heart clenches at the thought of Roman and Keegan facing this psychopath. I grasp the door handle to join them, but Tennant pulls me back. “I need to get out! I can’t let them face her alone.”
“Ah, there’s one of you. I knew the new Boss was in the backseat with you.” She raises her gun and points it directly at Keegan’s head. My palms sweat and my heart races from the sudden fear for my friend’s life. “He can either get out or I’llkill you and then take him out. Thirty seconds… Tick Tock, Tick Tock.”
Shuddering, I throw Tennant’s arm off and exit the vehicle myself, blocking out the cursing behind me. “It seems, you have us at a disadvantage. Don’t you know it’s polite to introduce yourself, Cecily?”
“Ah, the O’Connel Boss. Thanks for joining me. I believe we’ll have a more in-depth conversation.”
Her gaze doesn’t sway from Keegan, and I can practically hear the fucking countdown. “Leave him be. If you have an issue, it’s not with Keegan.”
“Considering he sold out his country? Are you sure I don’t?” My stomach sinks at her smirk. She’s too well versed if she already knows of Keegan’s history. Granted, she’s twisting it completely wrong, but fuck this.
I grasp the gun from where I hid it in the small of my back, and bring it forward, but before I can get off my shot, she swings her gun toward me and pulls the trigger. I don’t move, shocked that there’s no pain, at least until I hear the pained gasp from behind me.
Whirling around, I see Tennant on the cement, blood seeping out of him. Screaming, as rage and fear explode inside me, I rush to his side. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
I put pressure on the bullet site. It’s by his shoulder, which gives me hope that it’s not fatal…if we can get him help. And somehow, I don’t think this bitch has that in the plans for us.
“Get up and get over here. And tell your friend to join you. We’re going to take a trip. If you want that asshole on the ground to have a chance at living…you’ll do what I say.”
I drop my gun next to Tennant, putting my hands up as I stand. Tennant opens his mouth to argue, but struggles against a wave of pain hitting him. Swallowing, I back up, trying to memorize every inch of my love, my Daddy, before turningaround to face the bitch. I let every fear go as I march toward her, my chin thrust forward as rage rolls through me, and hell, practically off me.
“You’re going to regret that,” I spit at her. There’s another gunshot, and I force myself not to jump. It had better not be Tennant…but from the sound of the cursing, I wonder if it was Keegan who hit the ground. Suddenly, Roman is pushed against me, and the cunt stands there smiling.
“I wouldn’t celebrate just yet,” Roman sneers. “If you think you’ve won, you’re so very wrong…”
She tips her head back and laughs. “Oh, you foolish little boys, playing at being Bosses. It’s you who will learn. But I don’t have time right now to play.”
I exchange a quick look with my friend, but out of the corner of my eye, I see two men behind us. I don’t know where they came from, but the cuffs they’re carrying is not a good sign. Screwing up my face, I shake my head.
“Nope. Cuffs are not my fashion accessory. You have no idea what you’re in for, bitch.”
Her face turns red, and she opens her mouth to say something, but she suddenly grins as I’m yanked back, a man’s arm coming across my neck. It appears, being mouthy gets you put in a chokehold.Who knew?
Fuck…I fight against it, but it’s impossible. Whatever she says gets lost as my consciousness slowly bleeds away.Fucking hell.I did not plan on being kidnapped ever again…
Dr. Ranlen and I are in the study. I’m holding one of Doc’s romance books, pretending I understand a word written on the page, while she’s…doing whatever it is she does. She has files that are probably work related, and a tablet she’s using to watch Allesandro. We tried to get him to join us, but the stress of waiting seems to be too much for my friend, as he hasn’t moved much all day.
I hate this. The limbo of when the end will come. Doc and Luca left this morning to speak with the Council; I have no idea which end of the spectrum either of them were leaning towards. I assume Luca at least asked for Allesandro to be spared. He cares about his former best friend, I know that much. As for me? I know I was never his favorite person, and I don’t blame him for that. Not when I had a hand in ruining everything he and Allesandro built.
Doc…I don’t know if he’d try to plead a case for me or not. He holds grudges as fiercely as Roman does. Aside from Ten, Doc is the only one who knew me before Roman. He saw me build myself and the Family out from the shadows of my uncle’s influence. He might not know everything Ten and I went through, but he knows enough. But that doesn’t mean he’ll let that influence him. Especially not after I threatened his Daddy and the trips in a fit of frustration.
I turn another page in my book, just for something to do, as I wait for my executioner to get here. We were told an hour ago that the Council had made their decision, and representatives would be by to deliver it. It’s easy to assume that means they thought death was the only recourse. And I don’t even blame them.
I hope Dr. Ranlen, or someone, delivers the letters I wrote to Roman and Carter upon my death. I already gave them to her with those instructions. If I’m allowed a last wish, that’s it.
Joel rushes into the room, breaking me out of my musings. He leans down to speak quietly in Sarah’s ear and she gasps, jumping up.
